Unit 9 Flashcards

1
Q

____ deplete the ozone layer

A

CFCs

gas compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, & fluorine, typically used in refrigerants & aerosol propellants (sprays)

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2
Q

Holes in the ozone layer common above the north and south poles are most common because

A

low temperatures create polar stratospheric clouds that lead to the production of free chlorine, which breaks down ozone

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3
Q

At what point of the year do low temperatures create polar stratospheric clouds that lead to the production of free chlorine?

(which breaks down ozone layer at the north & south poles)

A

at the beginning of the antarctic spring (october)

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4
Q

What environmental treaty banned CFCs?

A

Montreal Treaty

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5
Q

Type of powerful greenhouse gas combound intended to take the place of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) & chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) for vehicle air conditioning

(compound does not deplete ozone layer)

A

(HFCs) Hydrofluorocarbons

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6
Q

improper disposal of refrigerants & freezers releases…

A

CFCs

(and other ozone depleting compounds)

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7
Q

Ozone layer depletion causes…

A

-decreased rate of photosynthesis
-reduced crop & forest yields
-reduced tree seedling growth/survivability (increased susceptibility to harsh weather, diseases & pests)

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8
Q

Why is it predicted that ozone depletion over the poles will be at its worst between 2010 and 2019?

A

Because ozone takes that long to reach peak atmospheric concentration

about 9 years

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9
Q

What are the main greenhouse gasses?

A
  • carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • methane (CH4)
  • water vapor (H2O)
  • nitrous oxide (Nx)
  • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Natural Atmospheric Greenhouse Gasses: CH4, H2O, Carbon Monoxide (CO)

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10
Q

Vocab word

level of reflectivity of a material

(how much heat a material can reflect off the earth)

A

Albedo

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11
Q

Material with the highest albedo on land

A

Snow & Ice

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12
Q

Temperature controls are…

A

factors that will alter the temp in an area, examples include:
* albedo
* geographic position
* ocean currents
* greenhouse gasses

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13
Q

Water vapor is responsible for about 50% of the green house effect, why does it have such a low GWP?

GWP = Global Warming Potential

A

Water vapor does not stay in the atmosphere for very long

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14
Q

The greenhouse effect is caused by…

A

Greenhouse gases absorb Inferared Radiaton from Earth’s surface

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15
Q

Top 3 Compounds with the highest GWP

GWP = Global Warming Potential

A
  1. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  2. Nitrous Oxide (Nx)
  3. Methane (CH4)
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16
Q

What makes a greenhouse gas a greenhouse gas?

A

The gases ability to absorb infrared thermal radiation

greenhouse effect

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17
Q

The primary anthropogenic source for nitrous oxides is

A

agriculture, (fertilizer use & manure decomposition)

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18
Q

Global climate change is caused by…

A

excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

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19
Q

What causes rising sea levels?

A
  1. Expansion of water molecules from ocean warming
  2. Melting Ice Sheets

1 = primary cause

Higher global temperatures are the originating cause

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20
Q

Effects of Global Warming:

A

Rising global temperatures
lengthens the season & increase the geographic range of disease-carrying insects
Increased rainfall, flooding & humidity makes more viable areas for vector breeding (breeding occurs more quickly, as eggs hatch faster in hotter climates)
Human Migration
exposes people to viruses that they are not immune to & also displaces coastal populations causing people to migrate to new regions & urban areas bringing diseases

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21
Q

a greenhouse gas that comes only from anthropogenic sources and causes global cooling

A

CFCs

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22
Q

the most abundant non-anthropogenic greenhouse gas

A

water vapor

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23
Q

If Earth had no atmosphere, the mean surface temperature would be approximately -15°C. With our present atmosphere, Earth’s mean surface temperature is approximately +15°C, why?

A

The atmosphere absorbs infrared (thermal) radiation

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24
Q

Global climate change occurs because increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses and ????? radiation in the ??????

A

Global climate change occurs because increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses and infrared radiation in the Troposphere

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25
Q

In models of global warming, the most important factor contributing to an increase in sea level rise is what?

A

Thermal expansion

(the expansion of water molecules as the temperature increases)

26
Q

What results from greenhouse warming but also contributes to additional warming of Earth (i.e., is a positive feedback process)?

A

Decrease in permafrost

loss of high albedo areas

When permafrost thaws, it warms & decomposes, releasing the carbon that it holds as carbon dioxide (CO2) & methane gases

27
Q

Effects of Sea Water Rise:

on sea life

A

-new habitats on now-flooded continental shelves
-communities that may no longer be in the photic zone of seawater (sunlight doesn’t reach them anymore)

28
Q

Climate change may change circulation patterns, because…

A

temperature changes may impact Hadley cells & the jet stream

29
Q

What areas do ocean current disruptions effect the most?

A

Coastal Areas

30
Q

global atmospheric circulation structure & associated winds have been displaced toward…

A

the north & south poles

31
Q

Climate change can affect soil through…

A

changes in temperature & rainfall impacting soil’s viability & may increase erosion

32
Q

Volcanoes cause global cooling by…

A

releasing ash & sulfate aerosols into the atmosphere which changes the albedo & reflects sunlight back into space

33
Q

Large quantities of methane hydrates are located in this region and if released will contribute significantly to global climate change. Where is it?

A

North & South Poles

34
Q

In the stratosphere, what increases Earth’s albedo by reflecting solar energy back into space?

A

Ash & Sulfuric Acid

35
Q

What will occur if the trend of global temperature increase continues?

A

Levels of atmospheric water vapor will increase in the lower troposphere

36
Q

The polar regions radiate away more heat energy than they receive from the Sun in the course of a year. However, they are prevented from becoming progressively colder each year primarily by what?

A

the transport of heat through the atmosphere & ocean currents

37
Q

Anthropogenic actions that increase CO2 in the atmosphere:

and cause ocean acidification

A

-burning of fossil fuels
-vehicle emissions
-deforestation

38
Q

idk if we need this on the unit 9 quiz but

Biodiversity Index Calculation

(steps)

A
  1. Determine the number of different species
  2. Divide your answer by total number of individual organisms present

Answer will be between 0 & 1 with 0 = low diversity & 1 = high diversity

39
Q

What solutions can best reduce an anthropogenic cause of ocean acidification?

A

Reducing fossil fuel use

(decrease CO2 emissions)

40
Q

Ocean Warming is caused by

A

greenhouse gasses in atmosphere

41
Q

Effects of Ocean Warming

A
  • Coral Bleaching
  • loss of habitat
  • metabolic & reproductive changes.
42
Q

the decrease in pH of the oceans, primarily due to increased CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere

can be expressed as chemical equations

A

Ocean Acidfication

CO2 is released into the atmosphere & oceans absorb a lot of it, becoming more acidic

43
Q

Ocean acidification damages coral because

A

the increase in hydrogen ions in the ocean bond with avalible carbonate ions, resulting in less carbonate avalible for coral to use to generate calcium carbonate, thus slowing coral skeleton formation

44
Q

Invasive species: species that can live, and sometimes thrive, outside of their normal habitat, are often…

A
  • Generalist, r-selected species
  • tolerant of many different environmental qualities
  • Not controlled by natural predators
45
Q

Factors that can lead to a species becoming threatened with extinction:

A
  • being extensively hunted
  • having a limited diet
  • being outcompeted (potentially by invasive species)
  • having specific/limited habitat requirements
46
Q

Vocab word

measurement of an organism’s ability to survive & thrive

and reproduce

A

Fitness

47
Q

Species that are able to ??????? or ????? are less likely to face extinction

A

Species able to adapt to environmental changes or move to a new environment are less likely to face extinction

48
Q

Vocab Word

factors that change behaviors & fitness of organisms within an environment

A

Selective Pressures

49
Q

Strategies to protect animal populations include

A

criminalizing poaching, protecting animal habitats, & legislation

50
Q

key legislation for domestic & international conservation, aims to provide a framework to conserve & protect endangered species & their habitats

A

The Endangered Species Act

(ESA)

51
Q

Reasons that the population size of an exotic species often grows rapidly when the species is introduced in a new environment include which of the following?
1. Exotic species is resistant to pesticides
2. There is a large, underutilized food source in the new environment
3. Exotic species has few natural predators in the new environment

A

2 & 3

52
Q

Vocab word

a measure of the variety of organisms in an area

defends plants & animals from pests & disease, leading to a more stable ecosystem

A

biodiversity

Types include: species, genetic, & ecosystem biodiversity

53
Q

Factors leading to a decrease in biodiversity

A

HIPPCO:
* Habitat destruction
* Invasive species
* Population growth
* Pollution
* Climate change
* Over-exploitation

H is most harmful

54
Q

Causes of habitat fragmentation

Habitat fragmentation occurs when large habitats are broken into smaller more isolated areas

A
  • construction of roads & pipelines
  • clearing for agriculture or development
  • logging
55
Q

Global climate change causes habitat loss via changes in…

A
  • temp
  • precipitation
  • sea level
56
Q

As humans tamed wild organisms to amplify desired traits, genetic diversity…

A

decreased in the organisms’ populations

ex: bananas & black angus cows

57
Q

Ways humans can mitigate the impact of loss of biodiversity

A
  • creating protected areas
  • use of habitat corridors
  • promoting sustainable land use practices
  • restoring lost habitats
58
Q

Describe a disadvantage of creating a series of protected habitats in an effort to maintain biodiversity in an area

A

prevents access to the genetic material of creatures in the wild limits the genetic diversity in the protected habitat

59
Q

In general, what is the best long-term method of preventing extinctions?

A

Habitat protection

60
Q

Road construction, logging, and mining are banned in which federal lands?

A

Wilderness preservation Areas
(Only)

( Conservation areas do not count)

61
Q

What is the best way to reclaim disturbed lands?

A

Restoring vegetation